On the corner of 6th and Trinity — in an old building that used to house a speakeasy, covered in weathered wood and stone — Austin’s latest rock venue celebrates its official grand opening this weekend. Trinity Hall will feature local and national acts of all ilks, but they’re much more than just a venue.

One of the only spaces downtown with a piano — and a set of shadowy, walled-up tunnels underground, hinting at its history — the first floor of Trinity Hall is also home to the acclaimed Oldschool Bar & Grill’s newest downtown location. The show space upstairs also boasts a full bar with drinks that are (gasp!) cheaper than most you’ll find elsewhere on 6th.

While the space has technically been hosting shows since last Halloween, this weekend marks their official opening as a regular, weekly venue. Run by Cole Wilson and Talib Abdullahi, of local arts and music clan the Skank Family Collective, Trinity Hall hopes to breathe some fresh air into the downtown scene by booking eclectic acts and giving back to performers.

On Friday, December 9, Trinity Hall hosts a benefit for Toys for Tots featuring Milezo and the Noise, Maryann and the Revival Band and more special guests. If you can’t make the show, you can still help Toys for Tots while getting to know the Trinity Hall family a little better; they’ve put out a “Holiday Jingler” mix on Chinquapin Records featuring 13 bands (like The Sour Notes, Caddywhompus and Sun Hotel) putting their own spin on old and original holiday tunes. (The mix is only $1 and available digitally.)

Saturday, December 10, celebrate the official opening in style with Little Lo, Mother Falcon, Marmalakes, Jon Cook of Dog Gone Dead and Cryin’ Cole Wilson & Those Miserable Cowboys.

The venue will host shows Friday and Saturday nights, with the possibility of expanding to weeknights over the next few months. “Right now, we’re putting all our effort and energy into booking really solid bills,” says Wilson.

While they’re just getting started, the pair already have big plans on the horizon; they’re an official SXSW venue and will host several showcases, along with the annual KVRXplosion local show. And they’ve got big aspirations for the venue, and the impact its operation can have on the local music scene.

Like, for instance, the fact that they not only pay bands, offer free food and drink and a cut of the bar, something that’s unfortunately not standard for most venues.

“Having been in bands for almost ten years, touring and being treated poorly everywhere, this is an opportunity to give just a little bit back,” explains Wilson. “And hopefully, with the success of the space, our practices will be mirrored by other venues. Hopefully it’ll become a common practice again for bands to make something — if that happened, I would feel like I had really done something important.”

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Trinity Hall, located at 401 East 6^th Street, will be celebrating their grand opening Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 from 8 p.m. – 2 a.m.